Fluid seal



July 21, 1942.

D. O. JOHNSON EI'AL FLUID SEAL Filed D96. 16, 1937 INVENTOR.

DWIGHT 0. JoH/vsmv 4. Fee-o A/voe'eso/v 8 6i 4% 1 Patented July 21, 1942 FLUID SEAL Dwight 0. Johnson and Antone Fred Anderson, Oakland, Calif., assignors to National Motor Bearing Co., Inc., Oakland, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 16, 1937, Serial No. 180,151

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to fluid seals and more particularly to a fluid seal which is selfcontained and which is designed and adapted to be placed around moving shafts or on moving shafts or the like, for the purpose of retaining fluid within a housing from which the shaft projects and preventing the fluid from leaking out along the shaft where seepage normally occurs.

Among other things, it is the object of the present invention to provide a unitary seal structure composed of two or more stampings arranged so that the flexible sealing member may be clamped between two adjacent axially extending flanges formed on a pair of said stampings; to provide a novel form of cage structure permitting assembly of the device after forming of the axial clamping members; to provide a cage construction employing a minimum of parts and relying on the spot welding of its members to maintainthe assembly; to provide a novel form of cage structure employing a dished clamping member which tightens its hold when the cage parts are finally assembled; to provide a novel form of cage with parts having pre-formed adjacent axial clamping members which, upon assembly, reform the clamped portion of the sealing member into a keystone shape; and to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, economy and ease of assembly, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and as are inherently possessed by said device.

An important feature of my invention is the use of an outer cage member having a peripheral portion and a short preformed axial portion connectedto the peripheral portion by a radial wall. together with a nesting member also having a preformed axially extending portion which latter portion effects a squeezing or re-forming of the flexible sealing member when the parts are forced into assembled relation. This accomplishes a secure anchoring of the flexible sealing member in the cage parts, especially where the axially extending flanges are pre-formed to provide an annular groove which is narrow at its mouth. This also accomplishes an important economy from the standpoint of cost of assembly inasmuch as the sealing member is securely clamped without further spinning or forming of the axial flange on the outer cage member. A further economy, both in the time of assembly and in material cost, may be efiected by the use of spot welding for securing the inner clamping member against the radial wall of the outer cage.

The invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts il- Fig. 3 illustrates the seal of Fig. 1 in external form adapted to be secured with the cage in nonrotative fit on the shaft and the flexible element sealing against the here;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a fluid seal showing a modified form employing a finger spring.

A segment has been removed to expose a transverse section.

It is to be understood that the invention described herein is as readily suited to use when sealing externally as when sealing internally. Figs. 1, 2 and 4 illustrate internal seals, and Fig. 3 shows an external seal. The parts comprising these two types are the same except for reverse positioning of the several flanges. The claims, unless otherwise restricted, are intended to apply equally to external and internal constructions.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the seal is retained in a non-rotative position in the housing bore by what is commonly known as a press fit. The outside diameter of the ca on an internal seal is made several thousandths oversize to provide a drive fit with the bore. An external seal has the inside cage diameter made several thousandths undersize to provide a drive fit when inserting it on theshaft. This drive fit of the cage supports and maintains the leather l I or other suitable sealing means in sealing position around the shaft so as to confine or dam up whatever lubricant or fluid content may be in the housing and prevents it from escaping along the shaft or at the outer periphery of the seal.

The fluid seal as shown in the internal form in Fig. 1 includes a metal stamping substantially circular in shape having a cylindrical axially 1 extending peripheral flange l2 forming the outer peripheral wall and a spaced irregular axial flange connected by a radially extending portion l3. When assembled the outer radial portion IS on flange I2 is spun in to hold the parts together. Axial flange I4 is preferably bent inwardly toform an angle less than 90 with radial wall I3. The purpose of this is to have it form one side of a keystone or dovetail joint in which flexible sealing member II is held.

A washer I6 adapted to nest within the outer cage is provided with an axial flange H, the latter being'formed at an angle preferably substantially identical with axial flange I4 to form the other side of the keystone or dovetail joint. The mouth of the annular groove I8 formed by axial walls I4 and I1 is the narrowest portion of the groove and is preferably narrower than the thickness of flexible sealing member II so as to reform it and clamp it securely. This eliminates an additional assembling operation of moving either wall ll or II, or both, closer together after the sealing member II has: been positioned between them. Also, it insures a leak-tight joint between the sealing member I l and flange I4.

Thus, thepreferable arrangement of the parts so far described in assembling this seal is for the outer cage to be placed with radial wall l3 flat in an assembly jig, sealing member II is then placed in position so that it stands upright on radial wall I3 adjacent flange I4. Washer I6 is then placed on member Ill like a bracelet and is forced down around its outside. As axial flange I1 approaches opposite the in-turned edge of axial flange I4, greater force is required to move it the rest of the way because sealing member II is being compressed and re-formed to fit the annular dovetail groove I8. When washer I is nested in the bottom of the outer cage it is preferable that the edge 20 of flange I1 and edge 2| of flange I4 should lie in a plane substantially parallel with radial wall l3. If there is any substantial difference, then edge 20 should preferably be closer to radial wall I3 than is edge 2|. This relieves the tendency for washer I6 to work out 'of position.

In order to effect a further clamping action on the sealing member II, washer [6 may be made slightly dished (see dotted lines and reference numeral I6) and of a diameter to provide a snug flt with the outer cage. Thus, when the washer I6 is forced into clamping position and flattened against bottom I3 of the outer cage, the tendency is for axial flange I! to be contracted about sealing member II. This is due to the force set up as the washer bears against the inner periphery of axial member I2 and also to the contractive effect on flange I! of flattening the washer against radial wall I3.

On certain types of seals of this construction, and particularly those where the gap between the shaft and the housing bore through which it pror jects is substantial, it may be desirable to spot weld washer I6 to radial flange l3 at this stage in the assembly operation before closure member 22 is inserted.

Proceeding now with a further description of the structure shown in Fig. 1, there is provided a case closure member 22 having an axial extending portion 23 and radial portion 24. The latter functions to hold spring 25 on sealing flange II and the former functions to hold washer I6 in the bottom of the outer cage member. A recess 26 may be formed in member 22 to receive spunover portion l5 and give a smooth radial face to the assembled cage.

The sealing member II is formed of a tubular flexible stock and extends substantially co-axially with the shaft being sealed. One end is in axial contact with the shaft and the other end is held in its axial position in the cage member.

Fig. 3 shows a seal of similar construction modified only to adapt it to service as an external seal. Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts. Spring 25, instead of being the contracting type is an expanding type to urge sealing member II against the wall of the housing bore. Peripheral surface I2 of the outer cage member is adapted for press flt on the shaft or other moving part. No further description is believed necessary of this construction or its assembly in view of the above detailed explanation in connection with Fig. 1.

The modifled form shown in Fig. 2 combines the features of this invention in a two-piece cage. The outer cage 30 is formed with a peripheral portion 3|, with short axial flange 32 connected by a radial wall 33. The peripheral edge is adapted to be spun over to hold the parts in assembled relation.

The flexible sealing member II is of the tubular type having one end in contact with the shaft and the other end secured in the axial clamping groove of the cage.

An. annular dished clamping member 36 is formed of a size suitable to nest within outer cage member 30. It is comprised of the radial closure wall 31, connecting wall 38, and axial flange 40. A recess 4| may be formed between 31 and 38 to receive spunover portion '35 and make possible a smooth radialend to the cage.

Axial flange formed on the end of connecting wall 38 is inclined in the opposite direction to axial flange 32 so that these flanges 40 and 32 form an annular groove wider at its base than at its mouth. It is preferable that the bend connecting flange 40 with wall 38 should come opposite the edge 42 of flange 32 for the reason pointed out in connection with Fig. 1.

In assembling this construction of oil seal the outer cage 30 is placed on a flat assembly jig with radial wall 33 downwardly. Sealing member I I is stood on the inside of radial wall 33 adjacent radial flange 32.

The dished annular clamping member 36 is then started down around the outside of sealing member II and before closing wall 31 reaches the end of sealing member II, garter spring 25 is placed around the latter. As clamping member 38 is forced further downwardly on sealing member I I, radial wall 40 presses and reforms sealin member II lying between it and axial flange 32, with the result that when axial flange 40 has been forced into contact with radial wall 33 the clamping end of sealing member II has been regirmed into a dovetail joint taken in cross sec- The next step in the assembly of this seal is to spin peripheral edge 35 over onto annular clamping member 36. Usually, considerable force is employed in this spinning operation, and dished annular clampingmember 36 is pushed hard against radial wall 33 resulting in contraction of the mouth of the annular clamping groove around sealing member II. In Fig. 2, the angle of dished wall 38 is shown as about forty-five degrees to the shaft. It may be more or less depending upon the amount of contraction desired for flange 40. The greater the angle with resfigegct to the shaft, the more the contraction poss e.

While it is not illustrated, this seal construction may be employed in an external type seal with the parts simply reversed so that the axial clamping flange is on the outside instead of the inside, and an expanding type spring 25 is used.

The modification shown in Fig. 4 is in many respects like the construction shown in Fig. 1 and differs in the omission of the closure member 22, and in the type of spring employed on the sealing member I I. For this reason the same reference numerals will be used where they apply.

In this construction the clamping washer I6 is preferably made slightly dished (see dotted line position and reference numeral IS) with an outside diameter when sodished which fits snugly against the inner periphery of cage wall I2, so that when washer I6 is pushed down against radial wall I 3, axial flange I1 is contracted having cylindrical faces, comprising a cage memaround finger spring 45 and sealing member H. v

The eflect is to increase the grip on sealing member H.

The construction shown in Fig. 4 is best adapted to use with what is known in the art as a finger spring, which comprises a substantially flat spring steel strip formed into an open annulus 45 having transverse slits 46 extending partway in from one edge to form the fingers 41, These fingers press on sealing member II and urge it into sealing contact with th shaft. Finger spring 45 is placed around sealing mem ber I l during the assembly operation and washer l6 slides into position over the finger spring. The base of the finger spring is clamped in the annular groove between flanges I! and sealing member II.

With this seal as with the others, it is prefer able that the mouth of the annular clamping groove should be narrower than the width of sealing member ll so that irrespective of any contraction of washer l6 sealing member II will be securely anchored. When washer I6 is forced down into the bottom of the cage, and substantially flat against radial wall l3, these parts are preferably united by means of spot welding, indicated by the spots 48 where the metal has united.

In order to give additional body to peripheral wall l2, its outer edge may be flanged at IS.

The above described constructions and other modifications thereof which will occur to the man skilled in the art have the common feature of clamping the sealing member H between inclined pre-formed axial flanges, and of effecting a further tightening of the axial clamping flange as the dished inner washer is put under stress as explained. e

What we claim is:

1. A unitary fluid seal adapted'for press fit insertion to seal the space between moving parts having cylindrical faces, comprising a cage mem her having a peripheral surface for press fit engagement with a cylindricalface, and having a radial portion, said radial portion having its edge adjacent the surface to be sealed bent to form an axial flange inclined slightly away from said last named surface, a flexible sealing member extending substantially co-axially of the cylindrical face being sealed and having one end adjacent the inside surface of said axial flange,

and a one piece self-tightening clamping member ber having a peripheral surface for press fit engagement with a cylindrical face, and having a radial portion, said radial portion having its edge adjacent the surface to be sealed bent to form an axial flange inclined slightlyaway from said last named surface, a flexible sealing member extending substantially co-axially of the cylindri-' cal face being sealed and having one end adjacent the inside surface of said axial flange, and an annular clamping washer comprising a web extending between the opposite corners of said cage member and having an axial flange complementary to the flange on said cage formed on its rim adjacent the sealing member.

3. A unitary fluid seal adapted for press fit insertion to seal the space between moving parts having cylindrical faces, comprising a cage member having a peripheral surface for press fit engagement with a cylindrical face, and having a radial portion, said radial portion having its edge adjacent the surface to be sealed bent to form an axial flange inclined slightly away from said surface; a flexible sealing member extending coaxially of the cylindrical fac being sealed and having one end adjacent the inside surface of said axial flange; and a dished clamping washer adapted to nest in the bottom of said cage member and having an axial flange formed adjacent the axial flange on the latter, a cage closure member also nesting within said cage and having an axially extending portion in contact with said clamping washer and a radially extending portion closing the open end of said cage.

4. A unitary fluid seal adapted for press fit insertion to seal the space between moving parts having cylindrical faces, comprising a cage member having a peripheral surface for press fit engagement with a cylindrical face, and having a radial portion, said radial portion having its edge adjacent the surface to be sealed bent to form an axial flange, a flexible sealing member extending substantially co-axially of the cylindrical face being sealed and having one end adjacent the inside surface of said axial flange, and an annular clamping washer comprising a web extending between the opposite corners of said cage member and having an axial flange complementary to the flange on said cage formed on its rim adjacent the sealing member.

5. A unitary fluid seal adapted for press fit insertion to seal the space between moving parts having cylindrical faces, comprising a cage member having a peripheral surface for press fit engagement with a cylindrical face, and having a radial portion, said radial portion having its edge adjacent the surface to be sealed bent to form an axial flange, a flexible sealing member extending substantially co-axially of the cylindrical face being sealed and having one end adjacent the inside surface of said axial flange, and an annular clamping washer comprising a web extending from one corner of said cage diagonally in the general direction of said axial flange and having a cooperating flange complementary to the flange on said cage supported by said web.

DWIGHT O. JOHNSON. ANTONE FRED ANDERSON. 

